Chapter 58

The time was 2 a.m. and everyone was doing their own thing to keep themselves occupied. Masen was out hunting with Jasper and Emmett, and Carlisle was sure they'd all be gone for awhile. He took the opportunity to spend some one on one time with Esme. She sat watching television with Rosalie, leaning on her elbow with her hand on her head.

"Esme," Carlisle said, approaching her, "Would you like to go for a walk?"

She hadn't realized he'd come into the room, and so it caught her off guard, "Yeah. Sure." She got up from the couch and Rosalie smiled as Carlisle took her hand and lead her out the door.

"Where are we going?" Esme asked.

Carlisle shrugged, "No where in particular," he reached for the car keys in his pocket and unlocked the doors.

"I thought we were going for a walk."

He smiled, "I figured we'd park it in town somewhere and have a human-like night. Walk the town."

"Sounds good," she smiled and hopped in the passenger seat as Carlisle held the door open for her. He closed it behind her and Esme remembered the time the older woman complimented his gentleman ways on one of the nights they went out with Charlie and Sue.

He started the car and leaned in to kiss her, "I love you."

She let her hand linger on the side of his face, "I love you, too."

They cruised through the town, and Carlisle kept the speed at a low, attempting to enjoy the scenery at a slower speed than they were used to. He figured most people would be sleeping, so they would have the streets to themselves - and they never had to worry about muggers.

Esme felt butterflies in her stomach and had the same giddy feeling she'd had when they first arrived on the island. She looked down at Carlisle's hand over hers that had been that way since they'd left the house. Every so often he'd move his thumb slightly, sending tingles from her hand all the way up her arm. She couldn't take her eyes off of him as they drove. His hair was slicked back as it always was and the expression on his handsome face was carefree and light. He turned to her briefly on a strait away.

"You know, Esme," he said grinning, "I can see you staring."

"How could I not?"

He pulled the car to the side of the road across from a string of small shops, "Shall we?"

She smiled, "Yes, sir."

Carlisle exited the car and made his way slowly around to Esme's side before opening the door for her. She stepped out and he locked the car, pushing the door shut.

"It's nice having the human world to ourselves," she told him.

He nodded and looked up toward a street light that decorated the spot where the stood in between the car and sidewalk. It seemed to illuminate Esme's beauty in the warm, docile night.

Carlisle stepped forward, lightly pinning Esme to the car. She rested her hands on his chest and closed her eyes as he kissed her, not with passion, but with a gentle, loving touch of his lips, just barely moving his tounge inside her mouth.

She knew him well enough to know what his actions meant; what he was feeling - a sense of thankfulness and appreciation, which she was almost positive he would verbally express to her momentarily. Esme loved when he was in this type of mood. There was never a time where she felt more loved and more worthy of life. He made her feel special in such a way that no one else could.

Esme opened her eyes in time to see Carlisle reopen his. He moved his face back, never taking his arms from around her waist. She gave him a closed mouth smile and he looked her in the eye, putting his thumb and finger under her chin.

"I love you," he said with serious tone, "I don't know what I'd be without you, Esme. I don't tell you enough."

Esme's butterflies made her feel weak and elated, "You tell me and show me every day," she told him, "I love you. I miss you every time I'm not around you."

"I should tell you more often," he said, "It's nice to hear the words. I'll never be worthy of you."

Esme brought her mouth to his, "Carlisle, if anyone's not worthy, it's me. You still give me butterflies every time you walk into the room." She looked into his golden eyes and felt herself weakening again.

"You make me weak in the knees," he said, reminding her of their first night on Isle Esme. He put his lips to her ear, "Remember?" He kissed gently just below her ear lobe.

Esme found her arms wrap around his back, "I remember."

Carlisle brought his lips back to hers for a series of kisses before taking her by the hand to tour the early morning streets of Forks. Their hand in hand stroll around town reminded her of the nights they used to spend earlier in the century. Forks had an old time feel to it, that Esme loved. The little shops and the small town vibe were things she hadn't seen change much over the decades. She looked up at the starry sky that was accompanied by half of the moon.

"It's nice here at night," she told him.

Carlisle looked at her as they walked, "It is."

It had been awhile since they'd taken the time to truly take in the beauty of the town they called home. Forks had a lot of grace that went unknown to most, or at least unappreciated.

They must have walked for miles before coming back to where the car was parked, "I guess it's time to go back to the madness we call home," Carlisle joked with a smile.

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Esme said with a smile. She leaned in for a kiss and attempted to take in their final moments alone.

Two loud voices interrupted the last few minutes of their romantic stroll. Carlisle and Esme looked at each other and a young man and woman rounded a corner so they were visibly on their street.

"Leave me alone," the woman shouted angrily with a touch of fear in her voice.

A man followed a few feet behind, walking arrogantly toward her.

"Her voice sounds familiar," Carlisle scanned his thoughts and looked at Esme, "She's an intern at the hospital."

The man grabbed her arm and she pulled herself free from his grasp. "I don't know you! I don't want to know you!"

"I'm John," he said, visibly drunk and becoming increasingly threatening. He grabbed her arm again, and this time she was unable to break free.

Carlisle and Esme looked at each other and made their way over to interfere with the commotion.

"Is there a problem?" Carlisle asked calmly.

The woman stared up at them with a look of relief on her face, "Dr. Cullen?"

"Let her arm go," Esme instructed.

The man smiled, and alcohol lingered heavy in the air, "Or else what? What are you going to do?"

Carlisle stepped between them, "We don't want any trouble. Go home. Get a good night's sleep."

He let go of her arm and stepped up in Carlisle's face. Esme took the girl protectively behind them and tried to comfort her.

"What are you going to do?" he asked, smiling.

"We're going to take the girl home safely," Carlisle said, he went to turn around and the man took a swing, connecting with Carlisle's jaw. Esme flinched, despite knowing he hadn't been hurt by the action. She still hated to see someone act violently toward her husband.

The man stood amazed at the lack of reaction Carlisle had to his punch, then stared down at his hand and yelled out in anguish, gripping it with the other hand.

The intern stared at Carlisle, in her own state of disbelief that he hadn't appeared to be hurt. She looked to Esme to see her expression.

"John," Carlisle said, "You'll need to go to the hospital," he looked at the drunken man's hand and examined it, "It appears to be broken."

A string of curse words left the man's mouth, still feeling the pain that was shooting up through his wrist and he stared at Carlisle with fear in his eyes before fleeing.

Carlisle turned to Esme then looked at the girl, "We'll give you a ride home safely, if you'd like."

"Yeah," she said dumbfounded, "Yes. Thank you. Thank you, both."

Carlisle helped them to the car, and Esme accompanied the young woman in the back seat. When they arrived at her destination, she seemed to have found her words.

"Dr. Cullen," she said, "And Mrs. Cullen?"

Esme nodded with a smile.

"Thank you so much for helping me. I- I don't even know what happened back there."

"You're welcome," they both said, "Esme, will you walk her to the door?"

"I'm okay," she told him, "And I'm Erin. I just don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you."

"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you up?" Esme asked.

"No. You've done enough. Really," she looked up at the house, "My sisters are awake."

Carlisle could sense how shaken she still was, and how confused she had been. He knew she wanted to ask about the punch, but didn't want to press the issue, still far too grateful for their actions.

Erin got out of the car, and Esme moved back to the front seat.

"I'm really sorry," Erin told him, "I didn't mean to ruin your night, or get you involved in that."

"You didn't do either," he told her, "We got involved because you were in trouble," then added, "Don't walk alone so late at night."

She nodded, "I won't. I'm sorry again, Mrs. Cullen."

Esme smiled, "We're just glad you're alright."

Erin waved and they waited until she was inside before driving off.

Carlisle grabbed Esme's hand and smiled, "Well, it was almost a care free night."

She touched his face, "I still cringed, even though it didn't hurt."

"I think he got the worst of it," Carlisle told her. He glanced quickly at the road to make sure nothing was there before he leaned in and kissed her the same way as before under the street light.

"You're my hero," she said with a smile.